Larry Fleisher, The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Michael King was able to salvage a situation where bases were loaded and his team had no outs to maintain the shutout and allowed the New York Yankees to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0, Thursday.
Luis Severino became the first pitcher to strike out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. three times in one game. Guerrero was struck out in all four of his at-bats for the first time in his career. The event comes the day after an evening of three circuits for Guerrero.
Coming in with a 3-0 lead, Aroldis Chapman managed just four strikes on 16 pitches. He walked the last three Blue Jays batters, in order: Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal and emergency hitter Matt Champman.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone replaced Chapman with King, a 26-year-old right-handed pitcher. It was King’s first save opportunity in Major League Baseball.
Severino (1-0) allowed two hits in five innings of work. He struck out six batters. Lucas Luetge, Miguel Castro, Clay Holmes and Chad Green all followed to the mound heading into the emotional ninth inning.
After a 95-minute rain delay, Severino earned his first win as a starter since Sept. 22, 2019, also against the Blue Jays.
Jose Trevino drove in twice on singles in the third and fifth innings. Giancarlo Stanton drove in the Yankees’ other run in the eighth inning.
Kevin Gausman (0-1) allowed two runs and six hits in five and two-thirds innings of work. However, he struck out nine batters.
The Blues Jays will return to action Friday night in Toronto to face the Oakland Athletics. Right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling (0-0, 9.00 ERA) will get the start for the Queen City squad.
